Plow-rudder.



N0- 830,637. PATENTED' SEPT. 11, 1906.

0. W. BIXBY'. PLOW RUDDER.

APPLIUATION FILED FEB.5,1904.

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APPLICATION IILED FEB. 5, 1904.

PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1 906.

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CHARLES W. BIXBY, .OF LA CROSSE,

PLOW COMPANY, OF LA CROSS WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO LA CROSSE E, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION.

PLOW-RUDDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11, 1906.

Application filed February 5, 1904. Serial No. 192,140.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. BIXBY, a resident of La Crosse, in the county of La Crosse and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plow-Rudders, of which the following is a, full clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to plow attachments, and more particularly to means for overcoming side draft, or tendency of the plow to move sidewise-e.g., when the plow is being operated on a hillside.

The invention designs to provide a rudder, whereby any side draft or movement-such, for example, as results from tendency to slip Y downhill when the plow is in use on a hillside is overcome, so the plow will advance forwardly in true direction.

The invention also designs to provide a rudder for said purpose which can be readily and conveniently raised and lowered when desired and which can be secured to travel in the ground at any desired depth, and, still further, to provide a rudder which can be adjusted laterally so as to be held in angular relation with respect to the line of draft, to rectify any tendency of the plow to move sidewise.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claim at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a plow embodying theinvention, the rudderoperating lever being shown insection. Fig.

2 1s a partial side elevation of the improved rudder mechanism. Fig. 3 is a vertical section 011 line 3 3 ofFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 isa side elevation of a modification.

The invention is illustrated as applied to a disk plow, comprising amain frame 10, a landwheel 11, ad ustably connected with the frame by a crank-axle 12, front and rear furrow-wheels 13 and 14, an evener-support 15, an operators seat 17, and disks 16 16, suitably j ournaled in the frame, all of which parts may be of usual construction and operate in usual manner. The plow is also provided, as usual, with suitable steering connections, whereby the furrow-wheels are swung laterally and guided, andmechanisms or levers, whereby the main frame can be adjusted vertically with respect to the carrying-wheels.

As the particular construction of these parts forms no part of the present invention and are well understood in theart, more detailed description is not deemed necessary.

The rudder attachment comprises a flat disk or plate 20, having a sharp edge 20, so it can be-readily forced into and travel in the ground and secured to a hub 21, journaled on an axle 22. on said axle by and between a collar 25, secured at the outer end of said axle, and a collar 24, bolted to a supporting-arm 23, of axle 22. Arm 23 extends forwardly from said axle and is bent upwardly to form a standard 26, which is held in a pivotally-sustained bracket 27, secured to and shifted by a handlever 28. Lever 28 and bracket 27 are pivotally sustained by a bolt 29, which is secured in a frame-bar 30, bolted to the main frame at 31 and a bar 32, secured to a frame-bracket 33, whereby the standard of the rear casterwheel 14 is connected to frame 10. Handlever 28 is .provided with a release-lever 34, which is connected to a spring-pressed lockbolt'34. Said bolt is adapted to interlock with the teeth of a segmental rack 35, rigidly secured to frame-bar 30 and to retain lever 28 and bracket 27 in assigned position. Lever 28 effects vertical shift of the rudder-blade,

and thereby the rudder can be set to travel in the soil at different depths or to remain out of the soil when the plow is to be operated without the rudderfor example, when the direction of travel of the plow is changed or reversed.

The relative position of the rudder with respect to the line of draft can be varied so as to force or deflect the plow laterally in either direction. Standard 26 of the rudderaxle is pivotally sustained in lever-bracket 27 and has rigidly securedto its upper end an arm 36. Said arm extends rearwardly and its distal end is secured against lateral movement by a restraining-bar 37, having I an eye or loop 38, which extends around an upward extension 33 of bracket 33, in which the standard of the rear caster-wheel is held. Arm 36 is connected to restraining-rod 37 by a stud 39, swiveled in a socket 40 at the rear end of said arm. Said stud has an eye 38, through which. rod 37 passes, and is confined between collars 41 and 42, which are Hub 21 is held. against end playadjustably secured to said rod by screws 43.

Said collars serve as adjustable abutments arm 23 can be raised and lowered by lever 28. A hook 44, having a loop 45, fitting around the axle-standard of rear furrowwheel 14, restricts the loop end of the restraining-bar against vertical shift. The restraining-bar, its collars, and stud 39 constitute a connection which restrict the rudder against lateral movement and permits vertical pivotal movement of arm 23 and its connected parts about fulcrum 29.

The rudder-operating lever is located within convenient reach of the operator, and the rudder is adapted to penetrate and travel in the soil and is located to travel in the un plowed land, where it serves more effectively to guide the plow. The rudder attachment can be applied to plows of usual construction.

The operation will be as follows: When there is a tendency of the plow to move sidewise, resultant from Working the plow on the side of a hill or from undue pressure of the soil against the plow-disks or when the soil is so soft that the furrow-wheels do not maintain the desired direction of the plow, the operator will set lever 28, which is arranged within convenient reach, approximately in the position shown in full lines of Fig. 2. The revoluble rudder-disk will then be firmly held to travel in the ground and effectively resist any sidewise movement of the plow. When the use of the rudder is not desiredfor example, when the direction of travel of the plow is to be changed or reversed or the plow is to be transportedthe operator will set lever 28 in the position indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 2. The rudder will then be raised out of the ground and will not affect the travel or turning of the plow. The proper working depth of the rudder is determined by the nature of the soil, and by adjustment of said lever along rack 35 the extent of penetration of the rudder into the soil can be readily varied. Shift of lever 28 will cause shift of bracket 27 about fulcrum 29. Rudder-sup porting arm 23 and standard 26 swing with said bracket and effect vertical shift of the rudder-axle and rudder. Arm 36, which is secured to standard 26, is held against lateral oscillation by restrainingbar 37, and thereby the rudder when traveling in the ground is secured against lateral swing to properly direct the plow. In order to maintain the desired course and to rectify the tendency of the plow to move sidewise, in some instances dependent on the nature of the soil, it has been found necessary to vary the angleof the rudder with respect to the line of draft. By adjustment of collars or abutments 41 and 42 along restraining-bar 37 arm 23 can be swung to either side to pivotally shift standard 26, supporting-arm 23, and rudder-axle 22 and to cause the rudder to be secured at an angle with respect to the line of draft. Then the rudder will crowd the plow sidewise the extent necessary to maintain the desired direction of travel of the plow. IVhen such lateral adjustment has been made, the rudder may be raised and lowered by lever 28; but the angular posi-' tion of the rudder will be maintained and the restraining-bar will secure the rudder against deflection from its assigned angular position by the soil.

In Fig. 5 is shown a form of the invention in which there is a yielding connection between the operating-lever for the rudderblade and the rudder-support, whereby the rudder will be yieldingly held in the soil, so if an obstruction is encountered the rudderdisk will yield and pass thereover. In this form lever 28 and bracket 27 are separately formed and pivoted on fulcrum 29. Said lever is provided with a projecting lug 50, in which a curved rod 51 is secured, which extends through an eye 52 on said bracket. A coil-spring 53 is arranged between the lever and bracket and forms a yielding operative connection therebetween. When the rudder is traveling in the soil, bracket 27, arm 23, and the rudder will be pressed downwardly by spring 53. If an obstruction'is encountered by the rudder, the spring will yield and allow the rudder to ride over the obstruction. Astop-nut 54, secured to rod 51, limits the relative play of the bracket and positively shifts the bracket with the lever when the lever is shifted to raise the rudder.

Manifestly the invention is not to be understood as restricted to the embodiment shown and described, but may be varied within wide limits without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a plow-frame having front and rear supporting-wheels of a plow-rudder comprising a revoluble blade adapted to penetrate and travel in the soil, a rudder-carrying arm, a vertically-swinging bracket in which the arm is pivotally held, a lever for shifting said bracket, and means adjustably securing the rudder against lateral movement about its pivot in the bracket.

2. The combination with a plow-frame having front and rear supporting-wheels of a plow-rudder comprising a revoluble blade adapted to penetrate and travel in the soil, a rudder-carrying arm, a standard secured to said arm, a vertically-swinging bracket in which said standard is pivoted, a lever for adapted to shifting said bracket, and means adjustably securing the rudder against lateral movement.

3. The combination with a plow-frame having front and rear supporting-Wheels of a plow-rudder comprising a revoluble blade adapted to penetrate and travel in the soil, a rudder-carrying arm, a standard secured to said arm, a vertically-swingin bracket in which said standard is pivote ,a lever for shifting said bracket, and means adjustably securing the rudder against lateral movement, comprising an arm secured to said standard. a

4. The combination With a plow-frame having front and rear supporting-Wheels of a plow-rudder comprising a revoluble blade penetrate and travel in the soil, a rudder-carryin arm, a vertically-swinging and laterally-adjustable rudder-carrying arm a lever for raisin and lowering the rudder, and means for adjustably securing the rudder laterally, comprising a restraining-bar.

5. The combination With a plow-frame having front and rear supporting-wheels of a plow-rudder comprising a revoluble blade adapted to penetrate and travel in the soil,

a rudder-carrying arm, a standard secured to said arm, a vertically-swinging bracket in which said standard is pivoted, a lever for shifting said bracket, and means adjustably securing the rudder against lateral movement, and a restraining-bar.

ing lever, and a vertically- 6. A plow-rudder, comprising a revoluble blade, adapted to penetrate and travel in the soil, said blade being vertically movable into and out'of Working position, a rudder-operatyielding connection between the blade and the lever.

7. A-ploW-rudder, comprising a revoluble blade, adapted to penetrate and travel in the soil, said blade being vertically movable into and out of working position, a rudder-operating lever, a rudder-carrying arm, and a vertically-yielding connection between the arm and lever.

8. A plow-rudder, comprising a revoluble blade, adapted to penetrate and travel in the soil, said blade being vertically movable into and out of working position, a rudder-operating lever, adjustable means securing the blade against lateral angular movement, and a vertically yielding connection between the blade and the lever.

9. A plow-rudder, comprising a revoluble blade, adapted to penetrate and travel in the soil, said blade being vertically movable into and out of Working position, a rudder-operating lever, a rudder-carrying arm, adjustable means securing the arm against'lateral angular movement, and a vertically-yielding connection between the arm and the lever.

CHARLES W. BIXBY. Witnesses F. E. DAVIS,

O. W. DICKINSON. 

